Planned SEPTA Cuts Going Into Effect This Month, Despite Legislative Action: Report

PHILADELPHIA — SEPTA will implement its drastic service cuts, officials said in the wake of the Pennsylvania Senate Tuesday passing an amendment that aimed to fund SEPTA in the short-term through the Public Transportation Trust Fund and interactive gaming revenue.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer said Wednesday the cuts will go into effect on Aug. 24. The deadline to fund SEPTA is Thursday.

Sauer confirmed the cuts would be implemented during a discussion with the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Rules Committee on the Senate's amendement.

The amendment was introduced by Northeast Philadelphia's Sen. Joe Picozzi (R-5th District). It affects House Bill 257 and is unrelated to House Bill 1788, which the House passed Monday

It allocates $292 million for mass transit this year and another $300 million in fiscal year 2026-2027. Those funds would come from the Public Transportation Trust Fund and not from sales taxes as proposed by Gov. Josh Shapiro.

>>>RELATED: Pennsylvania House Votes On SEPTA Funding<<<

"The legislation which we are voting upon today will immediately help SEPTA get the funding it needs to ensure our kids can get to school, workers can get to their jobs, and our seniors can get to their appointment," Picozzi said on the senate floor.

The amendment, Picozzi said, protects taxpayers, improves transit safety, and implements new accountability measures.

"More transit police on platforms and trains, tougher penalties for dealing drugs in stations, transparent reporting, so riders and taxpayers know how their money is being spent," Picozzi said. "I understand the concerns of my colleagues, but let’s be very clear. We have enough existing resources to fund transit and infrastructure for two years without cutting back our plans or cutting funding for other programs."

Picozzi said the Pennsylvania legislature does not have time to find a "forever answer" regarding SEPTA funding, and warned of perfect being the enemy of good.

>>>RELATED: SEPTA Releases New Schedules Amid Expected Funding Cuts<<<

"This bridge will get us through 2026, and give us the opportunity to showcase our home to the eyes of the world," he said, referring to Philadelphia's plans to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.

Sen. Nikil Saval (D-1st District) said the proposal "robs money from urgently needed capital projects to pay for operating costs."

"This is service cuts by another name," he said. "Taking money from the capital fund will make septa and other transit agencies less safe, less secure, and more difficult to run. It will make it impossible for transit agencies like SEPTA to maintain their aging fleets, let alone implement changes to make the system faster, more reliable, and more accessible to those it serves."

>>>RELATED: If You See This Sign, That Means Your SEPTA Route Is Slated For Elimination<<<

Saval also criticized the amendment for mandating fare increases, calling the proposal "unserious" and "dangerous," and accused the GOP of holding the state hostage by delaying funding votes.

Sen Sharif Street (D-3rd District) said the amendment called it a "cut to mass transit masquerading as funding," saying it would take money from mass transit while imposing increased fares for riders.

"Don't believe the hype," he said.

Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41st District) said "now you know how we felt" when Shapiro in November reallocated millions for road projects to transit, and in 2015 when Gov. Ed Rendell did the same.

"Doesn't feel so good, does it," he asked.

The amendment passed, with all 27 Republican senators voting for it and 22 Democrats voting against it. Sen. John Kane (D-9th District) was not present for the vote.

It will now be considered by the House of Representatives, where Democrats are poised to reject the measure.

If funding is not secure by Thursday, SEPTA will begin implementing major service cuts on Aug. 24.

Service cuts include ending 50 bus routes, the elimination of five Regional Rail lines: Cynwyd Line, Chestnut Hill West Line, Paoli/Thorndale Line, Trenton Line, Wilmington/Newark Line. These will be cut Jan. 1, 2026

The cuts will also force a significant reduction in trips on all rail services, an end to all special service including the Sports Express, 18 additional bus route eliminations, and a 9 p.m. curfew for all rail services, all of which would also begin Jan. 1, 2026. Additional cuts would follow in subsequent years.

And, a 21.5 percent fare increase will be implemented on Sept. 1, as will a complete hiring freeze.

The cuts and fare increases were proposed in response to a $213 million budget gap, which stems from a combination of the end of federal COVID relief funding and increases in the day-to-day costs of providing service to customers. SEPTA is also grappling with the impact of inflation on everyday necessities such as fuel, power and supplies.

The impact of the proposed service cuts would be felt throughout the city and region, as reliable options for everyday travel to school and work are greatly diminished, SEPTA officials said.

Efforts to stave off the funding crisis led SEPTA to take on aggressive austerity measures, including a freeze on management pay and cuts to third-party consultants, have resulted in savings of $30 million. Other measures, including a 7.5 percent fare increase and the resumption of paid parking at Regional Rail lots, are generating new revenue.

SEPTA is working to finalize work schedules for thousands of frontline workers and other staff, and ensuring equipment is in place and ready for service.

Time is also needed to prepare data feeds for the SEPTA App, external feeds, digital signage, platform announcements, and bus and train marquees to ensure service information is accurate.

These processes typically take a minimum of three weeks to complete for routine schedule changes, but will be compressed to less than 10 days to ensure all facets of SEPTA’s operation are ready for new schedules on Aug. 24.